Finally!! Some GOOD NEWS!!

We have received word from our agency that they expect our paperwork when they travel to Thailand the first week in June! We also have learned that we have been "officially approved" for adoption. This was a technicallity, but we'll take anything at this point. This is all good news because it means we're actually moving!!

This journey towards adoption has been the longest, and one of the hardest journeys we’ve every traveled. It has tested and stretched our faith in ways we never thought we could withstand, and it has taught us that God is really the only one in control of our lives. Those words are so easy to say, but living them day by day, when your child is on the other side of the world, is another story.
There were many times I envisioned myself as Jacob wrestling with the angel. Yet, deep inside I knew God had everything under control. I had an overwhelming peace that His timing was right, and He had a plan. I was more wrestling against the fact that I didn’t like that answer. I never once questioned His call for us to adopt, no matter the wait, or delays that came our way. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He had her in His arms and was holding her for us. I may never understand why we had to wait, but I know that I trust God, and I am firm in my conviction that this is our daughter and God has called us to be her parents.
Before I begin the next part, let me say that I am not suggesting that everyone should run out and adopt a child!! It is certainly not God’s call for everyone to do that, and I would not presume to know what God’s call is on anyone else’s life. I am certain, as is Chris, that it is God’s call on our lives. So, what I am about to say is meant to sort of back that up. This has become a passionate issue for, and it is something I believe in very strongly.
First, the Bible doesn’t make a definitive statement on adoption, either negative or positive. However, we are given several examples, in scripture of adoption. Moses is probably the one that comes to everyone’s mind firs,t when cases of Biblical adoption are discussed. He, of course, was adopted by the Princess. God used this situation to raise up a leader to lead His people out of Egyptian slavery. However, as I was researching I found that Esther was actually adopted by Mordecai. She later became Queen and saved God’s people, including Mordecai from the king’s evil henchman who was scheming to kill them all.
Then, of course we have Jesus and His relationship with His earthly father Joseph. Imagine having that job…raising God. Jesus was perfect, so the need for an earthy father wasn’t so much for Jesus’ benefit as much as ours. Could it be a model perhaps to show us how things should be? God Himself was adopted by an earthly father.
In the broader picture, there is the redemption story itself, and how we are all adopted by God. So, God seems to set an example for us that His heart is for the lost and broken. We are clearly told to spread the gospel to all the world, and God looks on the heart. So, does it seem possible that God might have an issue with white Christians who won’t adopt a child from another race? Do you think we might stand accountable one day for our kids having to have their own bedrooms and a closet full of clothes; when there is such overcrowding in orphanages, that kids basic nutritional needs are not met? Are we hypocritical when we tell women not to get abortions, yet refuse to adopt their babies?
I think the primary reason that people don’t adopt is FEAR. It may manifest itself in many different excuses, but the bottom line is fear. Where there is fear, there is a lack of faith because fear and faith can’t co-exist. Scripture is clear” God doesn’t give us fear”. So, if it doesn’t come from God, there’s only one other logical choice…Satan. Why would he be so interested in stopping Christians from adopting? Well, in theory this helps spread the gospel and Satan isn’t in the business of spreading the good news of Jesus. Also, these kids may grow up and adopt more kids, or become missionaries…This could spin out of control very quickly.
Fear can range from financial concerns regarding the costs associated with adoption, to the unfamiliarity of what you may end up with in the end. The financial part is one of those things that is part of the walk of faith. We have seen God provide for every expense along the way, exactly when the money was needed. When we looked at the “big picture” it seemed far to large for us! With God all things are possible! We have received donations, had a fund raiser garage sale, rented out our pop up camper, and been blessed with a grant from Show Hope!
The other issues regarding behavior challenges, health issues, mental issues, and racial issues, there are a lot of fear related excuse that people hide behind. I find it very interesting that people want a guarantee that nothing will go wrong in adoption that they could never get when they have their own children. Yet, because they can’t get some sort of security they use that as an excuse not to adopt. We all want our children to grow up to be happy, healthy, well adjusted adults. Most of all though, I want my children to love God first, and in today’s world, that may mean they aren’t so well adjusted, according to the world’s standards. God gives us no guarantees, not even our next breath. I am guaranteed that He will not give me more than I can handle, and I’m never alone.
So, does that make the horror stories irrelevant? No, it did not make the horror stories irrelevant for us as we made our decision to adopt. What it did was made prayer very much more relevant. It also made the success stories so encouraging! We read books, took the internet classes, and listened to our social worker talk about the “what ifs”. Again, God is calling the shots here, and we are fervently praying for our daughter to have incredible pace as we bring her home. We are asking God for the impossible, and expecting it. We are not looking for the worst, because we believe that’s what we’ll get. “He is able to do exceedingly above all that we could ever ask or imagine”!

As we’re wrapping things up and preparing to travel sometime in the next 6 months or so, God keeps bringing these lyrics to my mind: “I have leaned on the wisdom of men, oh Lord, forgive me. And I have responded to them instead of Your grace and Your mercy”. As we work through the process of becoming a family of 5, I do expect that we will have days that will cause us pain. Life isn’t easy and bring our daughter home isn’t going to be the magic pill that’s going to make everything just fabulous. There will be days that it will all fall apart. She will hurt and miss her life in Thailand. As her family, we will hurt for her. There will be days when I will lose it and wonder if I had a long lapse of sanity when I signed up for this. However, that’s no different than how I felt after both boys were born, and after I took my first teaching job. When JC was born, we heard every horror story about CF aht there was to hear, but God has written JC’s story. Her story will be written by God as well, and it will be rough at times. We just have to remember who is here with us and who has called us in the first place. I want to know, when it’s all said and done, that I did whatever God asked me to do… no matter how difficult it was. After all, He died for me.
Most of all, I want this child to know God. I want her to know Him in a very personal way. I want her to know how much He loves her. How He chose her to be ours and how He held her until we came for her. How He wants her to love Him and spend eternity in heaven. I want her to know the love of God who will never leave or forsake her, and will heal her scars. I want her to understand, as I have, that His grace is sufficient and it’s always enough. I want her to grow up to be strong, assertive, fall in love with a wonderful man, have babies, and do whatever God has planned for her. I want her to know that she can do this with, or without sight, and I want her to confident in who she is blind or sighted. I want her to be confident enough to dismiss any man who dismisses her because of her blindness, knowing that he wasn’t worthy or her. I want her relationships to be precious, positive, and life-long. I pray that when this is all said and done, her life is blessed by the choices that are being made on her behalf.
We hope that you will continue to pray for us as we wrap up the waiting phase of this eternally long process. We pray that all those we come in contact with will be encouraging and uplifting . If you have concerns or opinions, take them to the Lord, I’m sure He has a much better answer than I do. In closing, I’d like to suggest the advice that Thumper’s Father gave him in the movie “Bambi” If you can’t say something nice…Don’t say anything at all.